Reliving familiar frights can often make for a less-than-exciting horror experience. But with the remake of Resident Evil 2, Capcom shows respect for the original while also going to great lengths to give the macabre atmosphere and tense gameplay a noticeable upgrade. In doing so, this revamp of the classic survival horror game shows that the series can still offer a terrifying experience like no other.You once again play as either Leon Kennedy or Claire Redfield. A viral outbreak has unleashed hordes of zombies and other grotesque monsters upon Raccoon City, leading to a series of dangerous and nightmare-inducing encounters for the two characters. While both protagonists' storylines have similar plots and take place in the same locations, there are different supporting characters and unique challenges in each that set the two playthroughs apart.In traditional Resident Evil fashion, you're tasked with surviving through the night and overcoming the nightmarish creatures and devious puzzles found throughout the infested streets of the city, the tight, dimly lit halls of the Police Station, and in the subterranean passages below. RE2 is a great mix of the understated survivalist approach from the original games and the tactile, reflex-oriented gameplay from more recent entries. It's very much a game about escalation; as your resources dwindle and the monsters become fearsome and more elaborate, the pressure is always mounting as the story progresses, and each moment feels just a bit more desperate than the last. Even the smallest of victories can feel like major wins in RE2, and you'll often find yourself onto the next struggle before you know it.While those who played the original game will enter with an idea of what's to come, the remake does a lot to refresh certain encounters and locations. Though many locales and their layouts are similar--save for the addition of a brand-new area and a new monster to deal with--the events therein are new. Jump scares don't trigger when you expect them to, or a room that once spelled certain doom in your head is now a safe haven--but then the question arises: if this room is safe, which room is the real dangerous one?Early Resident Evil games have a reputation for being melodramatic, often unintentionally, but the RE2 remake a more serious tone that makes for a more evocative story. While there is still the undercurrent of the hokey tone from the classics, with the characters cutting the tension with humor when appropriate, the remake's narrative is far more convincing, propped up by some impressive writing and strong performances that help convey urgency and despair. This is especially evident during the more quiet moments, when the protagonists will try to psych themselves up for what's to come. Even minor characters are given additional substance in the remake, with poignant moments given to the doomed police lieutenant Marvin Branagh and gun shop owner Robert Kendo.Both Claire and Leon have two different versions of the campaign, and after finishing the first run for one, you'll be prompted to start a follow-up with the other. Called Second Scenarios, they allow you to see the larger story from a different perspective. Both scenarios are totally isolated from another, and choices therein won't impact the other, but what makes these second runs worthwhile are the different encounters and sub-plots that don't occur in the first. It's a very interesting way to experience the narrative, and with four versions of the campaigns between the two leads--with the first two averaging 12-15 hours--you constantly uncover new details and events that weren't present in the previous playthroughs.Resident Evil 2's more serious tone is further enhanced by the renewed, fantastically atmospheric presentation, which gives familiar details from the classic game more of a pronounced look and feel. Moving away from the static camera angles of the original, everything has been redesigned with over-the-shoulder gameplay in mind, giving more of a palpable and invasive sense of dread when exploring. This is heightened even more by the impeccable audio and visual design of the game, creating an eerie, isolating vibe throughout. In a number of cases, you'll only have the illumination of your flashlight as you walk the dark hallways of the bloody and ruined police station, with the ambient rain and distant monster sounds ramping up the tension. You rarely feel safe in RE2, even when you actually are.The remake's impressive level of detail is consistently noticeable, but especially so during gorey moments. These gruesome encounters channel the same macabre and staccato approach from the classics, but are now honed through the visual luster of modern rendering and animation. As the zombies are the one constant threat throughout, you quickly become accustomed to seeing flesh chip away as you fire off pistol shots, along with watching the undead torn in half by well-placed shotgun blasts. Though RE2 easily proves to be the goriest game of the series, it never comes off as excessive, and the grizzly details all serve to highlight the grim circumstances of the desperate situation.Resident Evil 2's more serious tone is further enhanced by the renewed, fantastically atmospheric presentation...At the beginning, your meager selection of weapons doesn't seem like a match for the game's most intimidating horrors, but there are means available that can give you the upper hand in a lopsided fight. In addition to dismembering enemies with well-aimed shots hindering zombies' speed and offense, you can barricade certain windows to block ravenous undead from entering from outside. While many of these options are simply a temporary solution to a long-term problem, which can make it seem like they're not all that worth taking advantage of, they are helpful in a pinch.While you will no doubt settle into tactics that work well, RE2 throws in some fresh challenges. In one of the game's more tense encounters, you cross paths with the Tyrant, a hulking presence whose footsteps echo throughout the environment. Though it was a serious foe shown in small doses in the original, this imposing force of nature is now more of a persistent threat that actively stalks you during key periods in the story. Simply ducking into another room isn't enough, as it'll quickly follow you in to keep the chase going--similar to the RE3's Nemesis in that regard. If you manage to create enough distance and it loses line of sight, it'll disengage, but will remain lurking throughout the halls. With this dynamic, the Tyrant also makes the common foes you've gotten a handle of become genuine threats once again. As you find yourself trying to stay focused on the stalking figure, it's all too easy to round a corner and run into a group of zombies.Though the Tyrant offers a nerve-wracking surprise during some of these key moments, which makes the feeling of getting the best of it all the more satisfying, there are other times when it can disrupt Resident Evil 2's pacing. This is especially frustrating when you're simply trying to acquire an item or solve a puzzle in a room that the Tyrant and zombies frequent. What should be tense encounters can sometimes become annoying exercises in trying to lure it away, and in some cases it comes off like you're taking advantage of the Tyrant's rather limited AI to do just that. The Tyrant can overstay its welcome, but in most cases, its presence is a constant reminder of the looming threat throughout the game.While RE2 often keeps things serious, it's not all doom and gloom. In addition to occasional references that break the tension, there's also a suite of unlockable content available to the delight of RE fans, including the classic RE2 outfits for both Leon and Claire. After completing the campaign for both characters, you'll unlock a set of bonus modes starring fan-favorites Hunk and Tofu, the later of which is a sentient knife-wielding block of coagulated soy. Both of these extra modes take you on timed gauntlets battling through many intense encounters, with Tofu's mode being the most difficult scenario in the entire game. They also allow for a chance to cut loose against hordes of monsters without the worry of the larger survival-horror mechanics during the main game.Resident Evil 2 is not only a stellar remake of the original, but it's also simply a strong horror game that delivers anxiety-inducing and grotesque situations, topping some of the series' finest entries. But above all, the remake is an impressive game for the fact that it goes all-in on the pure survival horror experience, confidently embracing its horrifying tone and rarely letting up until the story's conclusion. Though Resident Evil 2 has its roots firmly in the past, it reworks the familiar horrors into something that feels brand new and all its own.Info from Gamespot.com

Like every game in the series before it, Kingdom Hearts 3 begins by playing its theme, Dearly Beloved, over the title screen. Composed by acclaimed musician Yoko Shimomura, it perfectly captures the sentimentality at the heart of the series. The song is at once tender and melancholic, wistful and adventurous, somber and uplifting--a reminder of a history that'll leave longtime fans dewy-eyed. I wish I could properly convey the impact of hearing it, but the best I can do is to say that it is overwhelming.The only way to really understand the emotions Dearly Beloved stirs is to have connected with the franchise and its characters; to have followed their journeys over its 17-year history, for better or worse. The nostalgia for and investment in Kingdom Hearts as a franchise is incredibly powerful, so much so that it helped me push through the rougher patches in what is overall an enjoyable, if uneven, third entry in the core series. Kingdom Hearts 3 is preoccupied with fan service to a fault, and it also struggles to stay coherent under the weight of its own convoluted lore. But it's also everything fans love about the series: a thrilling action-RPG that celebrates Disney and Pixar, all the while ensuring themes of friendship, heroism, and pure-hearted goodness shine bright.At times, those themes can be difficult to discern, particularly when the game is intent on telling the grander story of Kingdom Hearts as opposed to the smaller tales centered around Disney's iconic characters or Sora’s innocent idealism. Given it's the concluding chapter in a massive story arc, it can't be faulted for having this fixation, but the execution is frustrating nonetheless. Kingdom Hearts 3 is bogged down in the finer details of its lore, so much so that--for all but the most clued-in fans--it can be difficult to get a sense of what our three main heroes are actually trying to accomplish.At its broadest, the story of Kingdom Hearts 3 involves Sora, Donald, and Goofy preparing for an upcoming war against the forces of darkness by gathering the Guardians of Light. This is oversimplification to its most extreme, but to delve into the finer details would require lengthy explanations of numerous confounding concepts and characters. It is undoubtedly messy, but for fans who have committed to playing all the games and been studious enough to join the dots along the way, it makes sense. For those that aren't as well-versed in Kingdom Hearts, the essentials of the story aren't laid out nearly as clear as they need to be.The bloated state of Kingdom Hearts’ lore is the result of numerous spin-offs and sequels that introduced new characters to explore back- and side-stories. Contained in their own games, these characters had the room to breathe, establish themselves, and have full narrative arcs. However, when united in one game, each is diminished in both characterization and impact. Kingdom Hearts 3 attempts to take all the disparate narrative threads from across its many games--and the characters tied up in them--and weave them together into one concluding story, and the result is incoherent to say the least. It doesn’t help that numerous characters look the same, or that some are time-travelling versions of themselves. Others, meanwhile, are reincarnations that have taken on a new form or exist inside the heart of yet another character. There are also a few that used to have one name, but now have another, but both names are used depending on who is talking about them. Before long all of these characters are elbow to elbow, vying for screen time and pulling the story in so many different directions that it becomes difficult to find its center again. The handful that are critical to the plot inevitably become lost among the many bit-parters that feel like they're in the game as fan service, instead of being meaningful to the story.If Kingdom Hearts 3 had stronger writing it may have been possible to highlight key details and figures for the player to latch onto; a chance to see through the crowd of faces and pick out the ones most important. However, the writing largely makes proceedings even harder to follow. The villains in particular--many of which are members of Organization XIII--spout inane lines that are purposefully vague. Presumably this was to build mystery, but it only serves to muddy motivations and further obscure the crux of the story. Otherwise, they're delivering cheesy dialogue that feels at odds with the sincere melodrama happening around them.At its core, Kingdom Hearts 3 is a heartfelt tale of enduring friendship, and the narrative is at its strongest when it narrows its focus to just thisThis is a shame because, at its core, Kingdom Hearts 3 is a heartfelt tale of enduring friendship, and the narrative is at its strongest when it narrows its focus to just this. Sora, the hero of the series, continues to be plucky and lovably naive. His greatest facets are his strength of heart, his ability to make friends with anyone, and his devotion to them--he is the archetypal wholesome good boy. Joining him once again is Donald Duck, stuffy and prone to outbursts but a trustworthy companion; and Goofy, slightly dimwitted but also the emotional anchor of the group.The endearing trio's adventures through the Disney and Pixar worlds featured in Kingdom Hearts 3, as well as the interactions they have with the characters within them, are a reminder that beneath the tortuous lore are smaller stories that resonate. By keeping the bigger Keyblade Wars story in the periphery and having minimal involvement from all those involved with it, these stories are clearer and more concise. The underlying themes of Kingdom Hearts harmonize with those of Disney's own properties so well that each new world Sora journeys to delivers an impactful moment of storytelling. In Toy Box, Sora helps Woody, Buzz, and the gang find their missing friends, as they also grapple with the idea that they live in a world where Andy doesn't exist. In Arendelle, he meets Anna, who is desperately trying to reconnect with her sister, Queen Elsa, and gets caught up in the family drama. In San Fransokyo, Sora assists Hiro and the Big Hero 6 team as they battle Microbots and find a forgotten friend. Admittedly, some of these stories retread old ground, but whether it's Tangled, Pirates of the Caribbean, Winnie The Pooh, Monsters Inc., or Hercules, experiencing them again through the lens of Kingdom Hearts 3 still packs an emotional punch. It's hard not to get swept up by the exaggerated displays of heroics or earnest reminders that your friends exist in your heart.One of the strengths of Kingdom Hearts 3 is the care and attention it pays to bringing Disney's worlds to life, which, in turn, makes being in them all the more exciting. You get to wander around Andy's bedroom as a diminutive toy version of Sora, scaling his walls and jumping on his toys, before making a trip to the mall. There you visit various toy shops, leaping on top of display units and between shelves as you battle the enemy Heartless. Returning to Kingdom Hearts 2's Twilight Town comes with a wave of nostalgia, as you hang around in the square watching a Mickey Mouse movie projected on a wall or visit the mansion where Namine stood at the window all those years back. Venture to the Pirates of the Caribbean world and the game adopts a striking, realistic visual style, swapping Sora and friends from their usual vibrant visages to a muddier tone in line with the movies' color palette. It then gives you command of your own ship with Jack Sparrow at your side. 100 Acre Wood shifts to the warmer pastels of a storybook aesthetic, as you help Rabbit tend to his garden so that Pooh can get some honey. San Fransokyo makes great use of verticality and Sora's ability to effortlessly run up buildings and glide between rooftops. At night it transforms into a blinding neon cityscape, inviting you to fly between floating blimps and grind rails with Baymax flying in tow. Monsteropolis has you working with Sully and Mike to stop Randal seizing control of Monsters Inc., and all the while Boo adorably potters along next to you.Many of the worlds offer extra gameplay activities to engage with after the story within them is wrapped up. Toy Box puts you in a Final Fantasy XV parody where you're in a mech destroying enemies and chasing high scores. Traverse Town has a cooking mini-game which involves collecting ingredients from across the worlds and then bringing them to Ratatouille's Remy to make meals. Pirates of the Caribbean lets you sail the open sea in search of treasure and do battle with enemy ships, or defend Port Royale in a wave-based mini-game. The amount of gameplay variety in Kingdom Hearts 3 is impressive, and although the extras may be short-term distractions, for those who want to spend more time in their favourite worlds, they're a fun reason to make the return trip.Not all worlds maintain that high bar, however, as some feel either empty or lacking in what they offer. Arendelle's snow-covered terrain, for example, feels quite bland, and the main mission involves climbing a mountain multiple times. Port Royale is an entire location used primarily for an item hunt. Toy Box's mall is devoid of life beyond the toys and enemies--it would have been nice to have people around to make it feel more alive, instead of like an after-hours shopping center. The same can be said of San Fransokyo which, on ground level, feels eerily deserted for a metropolis.The bulk of Kingdom Hearts 3's gameplay, however, is in its sword-swinging, magic-conjuring combat, which feels fast, frenetic, and spectacular in its cinematic flourishes. Its combat mechanics are an evolution of Kingdom Hearts 2's, which themselves have been tweaked and refined in the various spin-off titles. The most noticeable change is in its fluidity; Sora moves between enemies quickly, delivering a barrage of attacks, seamlessly transitioning into casting Fira to set enemies ablaze or Cura to recover health. There's a pleasing forward momentum to all the battles, as you zip around dispatching enemies in quick succession.There are numerous layers on top of the basic combat mechanics which, while not adding a great deal of depth or strategic considerations, make for more exciting skirmishes. Keyblades now come in a number of flavours to match the Disney worlds they're unlocked from. As part of this, they also have Formchanges, which are exactly what they sound like. As you land attack buttons, a meter builds up, and you are eventually given the option to transform your Keyblade into more over-the-top forms, where more powerful attacks and abilities become available. The game shows creative flare in these transformations too; Wheel of Fate, unlocked in the Pirates world, becomes an oversized spear and then the mast of a ship with the flag attached. Happy Gear, found in Monsters Inc., transforms into a set of high-speed claws and then a pair of yo-yos. Hunny Spout morphs into a pair of twin pistols and then a launcher, both firing honey at enemies.The amount of gameplay variety in Kingdom Hearts 3 is impressive ... for those who want to spend more time in their favourite worlds, [mini-games] are a fun reason to make the return tripMagic works similarly, with repeated use of a spell eventually making a Grand Magic version available at no additional mana cost. Throughout, Donald and Goofy will call to Sora for a team-up attack. For the former this could be a salvo of colorful fireworks that damage everyone in your vicinity. For the latter you can leap into the sky and throw Goofy at an enemy, with his shield causing an explosion on impact. These are characters that have fought many battles side by side, so having these back and forths are a nice representation of the camaraderie between them and their growth across the series--not to mention they're eye-catching cinematic moments.Feeding into the Disney milieu further are attractions such as tea cups, water rafts, bumper cars, and a rollercoaster that can be summoned to dish out damage. Each one controls differently, either through timed button presses, using the analogue stick to guide their path, or becoming a first-person shooter to pinpoint specific enemies, injecting a different style of combat gameplay into the action at regular intervals. Other Disney characters such as Simba, Stitch, and Ariel can also be called into battle, functioning similarly to Final Fantasy's summons to unleash devastating special attacks. Their inclusion is welcome, in lieu of giving them their own worlds, as some have had in past games. Beyond that there's Flowmotion, which builds a sense of speed by encouraging you to dash into objects in the environment to swing around, or at walls to parkour along. It can be tricky to get a handle of, but once you're able to work these moves into the flow of combat, you build a sense of prowess over the battlefield.Watching battles unfold, you'd be forgiven for thinking that combat is a complicated dance of fingers across buttons, but everything is actually achieved with one or two taps. Kingdom Hearts 3 is simple to play, which works in its favour. It prioritizes spectacle above all else and delivers tremendously. Instead of having to focus too much on what you're pressing and when, you can enjoy the madness unfolding on screen. This is a game that shows off and wows you with dazzling lights, explosive sounds, and high-octane action, and you don't want to miss a second of it. That's not to say it's completely devoid of strategic considerations, but you'll need to play on the harder Proud difficulty level if you want the game to challenge you. Otherwise--barring a few end game bosses--the enemies are pushovers.Another feature that makes its return from Kingdom Hearts of old is the Gummi Ship. Sora and his crew are able to pilot a spaceship as they travel to new worlds, at which point the game becomes a shoot-em-up of sorts. While Gummi Ship segments in the past were on-rails, this time you have full freedom to fly where you please, using wormholes and boost pads to explore quicker. Space is littered with treasures to find, but you'll often have to battle enemies to acquire them. The shooting in the Gummi Ship, while serviceable, isn't satisfying. The combination of lackluster visual and auditory feedback makes it hard to tell whether you're actually doing any damage, and for the most part I found myself absentmindedly holding the fire button down and waiting for things to explode. It is possible to create your own ships and outfit them with more weapons and augmented support abilities, but the fundamental shooting remains unchanged and uninteresting.As the game reaches its conclusion, the balance shifts heavily in favour of non-Disney worlds, where the main story of Kingdom Hearts can play out and resolve itself. Many of the environments this happens in are striking, from a pristine white city to strange modular arenas that can be turned upside down at the whim of an enemy. But in these locales the game trades the heart and whimsy of the worlds up until that point for heavy-handed storytelling that inevitably culminates in battles that are impressive set-pieces but feel cheap and spammy to play. With the finish line in sight, the game disrupts the pace with one arduous boss fight after another--not challenging in any way, just more of slog. The payoff, meanwhile, isn't entirely worth it, as Kingdom Hearts 3 wraps up its story in an incredibly unfulfilling way.But the story of Keyblade wars, time-travelling villains, body-hopping also-rans, and world-ending darkness isn't what I'll remember about Kingdom Hearts 3 or the series as a whole. What sticks with me is the exciting battle against elemental titans with Hercules, taking Rapunzel out into the unfamiliar wide world for the first time, snapping selfies with Winnie the Pooh, and going toe to toe with Davy Jones. In 2002, as Sora, I left Destiny Islands to travel across the universe and make new friends. In 2019 I brought old ones home, and I had so much fun doing it. Info from Gamespot.com

Nintendo UK has announced it is airing a new Switch-focused presentation tomorrow, January 23. The broadcast is scheduled to begin at 6 AM PT / 9 AM ET / 2 PM GMT and will showcase a number of indie games coming to the hybrid console in 2019. [Update: The Indie Highlights presentation has ended; here is every game that was featured in the video.]Nintendo UK will stream the presentation on its website, YouTube, and Twitch channels. GameSpot will have an embed of the stream up tomorrow as well, so you can tune in to it right here. We'll also have a recap of all the biggest news and announcements from the broadcast.Tomorrow at 14:00 (UK time), watch a new #IndieHighlights video showcasing some of the indie games arriving on #NintendoSwitch in 2019!Visit Indie Highlights hub: https://t.co/7soZe1r5fo pic.twitter.com/CiGaqc3CBc — Nintendo UK (@NintendoUK) January 22, 2019Nintendo hasn't revealed how long the indie highlight stream will be, but the company's previous indie-focused presentations have typically run for about 20 minutes. Likewise, Nintendo has not discussed which games will be shown off, but we already know of a number of indie games coming to Switch this year, including Windjammers 2 and Inti Creates' Dragon Marked for Death.The indie highlights broadcast marks the first presentation Nintendo is airing in 2019. The company typically streams a big Nintendo Direct sometime in January to outline some of its new releases in the first part of the year, but so far no proper Direct presentation has been scheduled for this month.Info from Gamespot.com

February is quickly approaching, which means it's almost time for another Pokemon Go Community Day. Developer Niantic has now shared the first details about next month's event, which is scheduled to take place on Saturday, February 16, and will feature another Gen 2 Pokemon: the Ice- and Ground-type Swinub.Throughout the event, Swinub will spawn much more frequently in the wild than it normally does. Based on previous Community Days, players will also presumably have a chance of encountering a Shiny Swinub during the event, and any Swinub that evolves into its final form--Mamoswine--up to an hour after the Community Day ends will learn a special move, although Niantic has not yet confirmed what that will be.Mamoswine was one of the many new evolved forms first introduced in the Pokemon series' fourth-generation titles, so to get it in Go, you'll need to have a Sinnoh Stone--a new evolutionary item in the mobile game. One of the ways these can be obtained is through Trainer Battles, and during the Community Day, Niantic says you'll have a chance to earn up to five Sinnoh Stones by battling other players. You'll also receive five rewards per day from Trainer Battles during the Community Day weekend.On top of that, you'll receive triple the normal amount of Stardust for capturing Pokemon during February's Community Day. Finally, any Lure Modules that you use during the event will also remain active for three hours, rather than their usual 30-minute duration. You can read more about the event on the Pokemon Go website.As usual, February's Community Day will only run for three hours, and it'll take place at different times depending on where you live. You can find the hours for each region below.Pokemon Go February 2019 Community Day HoursThe Americas and Greenland11 AM - 2 PM PT2 PM - 5 PM ETEurope, Middle East, and Africa10 AM - 1 PM UTCAsia-Pacific12 PM - 3 PM JST (February 17)Info from Gamespot.com

The NPD Group's analysis of the video games industry in 2018 is one that tells quite a story. Rockstar Games' Red Dead Redemption 2 was the No. 1 selling game of the year--but it was another huge, record-breaking year for Nintendo as well, thanks in large part to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.According to a release from NPD analyst Mat Piscatella, the games industry sold $7.1 billion in console, portable, and PC games in 2018, a 7% increase over 2017 and the highest total since 2012, which saw $7.5 billion in sales. October's Red Dead Redemption 2 led the list of best-selling games for year, followed by Call of Duty: Black Ops IV in second, NBA 2K19 in third, Madden NFL 19 in fourth, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate in fifth. Marvel's Spider-Man, Far Cry 5, God of War, Monster Hunter: World, and Assassin's Creed: Odyssey made up the rest of the top 10, in order. NPD's report does not include individual sales numbers.While Red Dead racking up the most sales of the year is indicative of the huge following enjoyed by Rockstar, the story of Nintendo's Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. might be even more impressive. Piscatella writes that Smash Bros. set the record for launch month sales for an exclusive title in December 2018, eclipsing Halo: Reach's launch all the way back in 2010. With just one month worth of sales, Smash Bros. managed to take fifth on NPD's list for 2018--and the analysis firm notes that its figures don't include digital sales of the game, which it currently doesn't track. That means Smash Bros. smashed Reach's record, and eclipsed other major releases, based on physical sales alone.And while Red Dead Redemption 2 took the top spot for game sales, that position isn't without caveat: NPD doesn't currently track PC digital game sales for Black Ops 4. Piscatella took to Twitter to make note the lack of PC digital numbers, saying it "made all the difference to the rankings."The race to the best-seller position in Software was very close. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 digital sales on PC are not currently tracked by The NPD Group and made all the difference to the rankings. — Mat Piscatella (@MatPiscatella) January 22, 2019Smash Bros. wasn't the only console exclusive to have a huge year in 2018. Sony charted twice with two big games that were only released on its PlayStation 4: God of War, from Sony Santa Monica, at No. 8 for the year, and Marvel's Spider-Man, from Insomniac Games, at No. 6. Piscatella wrote that Spider-Man was the best-selling superhero game in more than a decade, since Spider-Man: The Movie 2 grabbed the No. 5 sales spot back in 2004.Meanwhile, the rest of the Top 20 list for 2018 has some interesting additions. Rockstar's latest entry in another monolithic series, Grand Theft Auto V, managed to be the eleventh best-selling game in 2018, despite releasing in 2013. Nintendo charted with three of its older games for Switch (2018's best selling system): Mario Kart 8 Deluxe came in at No. 12 for the year, Super Mario Odyssey was No. 15, and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was No. 17. All three games came out in 2017. Those big hits helped Nintendo become the publisher to generate the highest software revenue of 2018--a title the company hasn't enjoyed since 2009.The full rankings lists for December and all of 2018 are below, ranked by dollar sales. You might also check out GameSpot's choices for Best Games of 2018 to see how they stack up with NPD's top sellers.2018 Top 20 Games* indicates digital sales are not included.^ indicates PC digital sales are not included.All PlatformsRed Dead Redemption IICall of Duty: Black Ops 4^NBA 2K19Madden NFL 19^Super Smash Bros. Ultimate*Marvel's Spider-ManFar Cry 5God of War 2018Monster Hunter: WorldAssassin's Creed: OdysseyGrand Theft Auto VMario Kart 8*FIFA 19^Battlefield V^Super Mario Odyssey*Call of Duty: WWII^Dragon Ball: FighterzThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild*Super Mario Party*Pokemon: Lets Go Pikachu*December 2018 Top 20 GamesAll PlatformsSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate*Red Dead Redemption IICall of Duty: Black Ops 4^Battlefield V^NBA 2K19Mario Kart 8*Madden NFL 19^Super Mario Party*Pokemon: Lets Go Pikachu*Marvel's Spider-ManAssassin's Creed: OdysseyPokemon: Lets Go Eevee*Super Mario Odyssey*The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild*Just Cause 4FIFA 19^Grand Theft Auto VMinecraft#Spyro Reignited Trilogy^Fallout 76*Xbox OneRed Dead Redemption IICall of Duty: Black Ops 4Battlefield VMadden NFL 19NBA 2K19Forza Horizon 4Assassin's Creed: OdysseyJust Cause 4Grand Theft Auto VFIFA 19PlayStation 4Red Dead Redemption IICall of Duty: Black Ops 4Marvel's Spider-ManNBA 2K19Battlefield VMadden NFL 19Just Cause 4FIFA 19Assassin's Creed: OdysseySpyro Reignited TrilogyNintendo SwitchSuper Smash Bros. UltimateMario Kart 8Super Mario PartyPokemon: Lets Go PikachuPokemon: Lets Go EeveeSuper Mario OdysseyThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the WildSplatoon 2MinecraftJust Dance 2019Nintendo 3DSLuigi's MansionMario Kart 7Pokemon: Ultra MoonPokemon: Ultra SunSuper Smash Bros.Super Mario 3D LandMinecraftDetective PikachuMario Party: The Top 100New Super Mario Bros. 2Info from Gamespot.com

Follow its launch on PC and mobile last month, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds' newest map, Vikendi, has now arrived on consoles. PUBG Corp. has released a new update for the battle royale game on PS4 and Xbox One, bringing the aforementioned snow map to both platforms, along with the Vikendi Survivor Pass and other new content.Vikendi is the fourth map to arrive in PUBG to date. Beyond its snow-covered terrain, its most distinctive feature is its size. Unlike the other maps in the game, Vikendi is 6x6 km large, making it smaller than both Erangel and Miramar, but larger than the 4x4 Sanhok.Vikendi also comes with an exclusive vehicle: the snowmobile. It can seat two players and is better suited to the map's snowy landscape than PUBG's other vehicles, but it doesn't perform as well over other kinds of terrain. PUBG Corp. has also added two new weapons: the Skorpion, which is available on all maps, and the G36C, which only appears on Vikendi.Arriving alongside Vikendi is the Vikendi Survivor Pass. Much like Fortnite's Battle Pass, it gives players a variety of challenges to complete over 10 weeks. Doing these challenges will level the pass up, which in turn will unlock cosmetics and other rewards.Rounding out the update are an assortment of tweaks and fixes for the game on both PS4 and Xbox One. Among other things, PUBG Corp. has revamped the parachute system and made various performance improvements. You can find the full patch notes on the PUBG website.Info from Gamespot.com

It was another huge year for Nintendo in 2018, with the company's Switch raking in the most sales of any console for the year in the U.S. According to a report from analyst firm The NPD Group, Nintendo helped lead an 8% increase in hardware sales, pushing the overall total to $5.1 billion.Nintendo wasn't the only console maker seeing gains in 2018, though. Analyst Mat Piscatella wrote in NPD's press release on its report that Sony's PlayStation 4, Microsoft's Xbox One, and other plug-n-play devices all saw sales gains in 2018 over where they landed in 2017. NPD did not reveal any sales totals or dollar amounts in its report.The Switch was inarguably the winner in hardware according to NPD, though, especially in December. In 2018, Nintendo made more money on console hardware than any company had since Sony took 2015 with the PS4. Nintendo's December 2018 Switch sales were higher for that month than any year since 2009--the year Nintendo had another huge December with sales of its Wii console.Nintendo's big win was reflected in software sales, as well. It had seven of the 20 top-selling games of 2018, which includes December's Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, which came fifth in sales for the year.Another big factor in hardware sales, according to NPD: Fortnite. The firm doesn't track software numbers for the free-to-play game, but Piscatella took to Twitter to remark on Fortnite's impact on the industry.But really, the real story of 2018 is Fortnite. Its impact across Hardware, Accessories and Game Cards cannot be overstated. And even though we don't track Fortnite software in this tracking, its impact on Software overall was absolutely massive and has changed the industry. — Mat Piscatella (@MatPiscatella) January 22, 2019Apparently, Fortnite has players buying lots of new gamepads and headsets. Piscatella wrote in his release that 2018 saw a 33% increase in sales of accessories and game cards in 2018, up to an all-time high of $4.5 billion. "The DualShock 4 Black, Switch Pro Controller and the Xbox One S Wireless Controller White were the three best-selling accessories of 2018 in dollar spend," he wrote, with headsets also contributing.A huge part of that spending took place in December 2018, when consumers spent $1 billion on accessories and game cards--an increase of 29% over December 2017. The big seller in December: the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller.NPD also ran down the best-selling software of 2018 and for December, with Red Dead Redemption 2 coming in first for the year.Info from Gamespot.com

Update: Nintendo's broadcast has wrapped up, but you can rewatch the entire thing below. It ran for just under 17 minutes and revealed a variety of new games, such as SteamWorld Quest, along with release dates for ones we already knew about, like the Advance Wars-esque strategy game Wargroove (February 1). We also learned that three games--Goat Simulator: The GOATY, When Ski Lifts Go Wrong, and Unruly Heroes are all out now on the Switch Eshop. The original story follows.Nintendo's Direct-style Indie Highlights presentation is happening today, bringing fresh news on all the independent games coming to Switch in 2019. The broadcast is scheduled to begin at 6 AM PT / 9 AM ET / 2 PM GMT (1 AM AET on January 24), and you can watch it right here on GameSpot above.Nintendo hasn't revealed how long the indie highlight stream will be, but the company's previous indie-focused presentations have typically run for about 20 minutes. Likewise, Nintendo has not discussed which games will be shown off, but we already know of a number of indie games coming to Switch this year, including Windjammers 2 and Inti Creates' Dragon Marked for Death.The indie highlights broadcast marks the first presentation Nintendo is airing in 2019. The company typically streams a big Nintendo Direct sometime in January to outline some of its new releases in the first part of the year, but so far no proper Direct presentation has been scheduled for this month.Nintendo's previous indie presentations have carried a "Nindies" label, and have given us a glimpse of some great games, such as TowerFall: Ascension, Into the Breach, and Transistor. Here's hoping we get to see some similarly stellar games today.Info from Gamespot.com

During an indie showcase, Nintendo debuted a new game from Image & Form coming first to Nintendo Switch. SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech is a card-RPG hybrid set to hit this year, first on Switch and then on other unannounced platforms.The brief look at gameplay shows a traditional RPG battle interface, but with cards lining the bottom to serve as attacks. A treasure chest gives off loads of loot in the form of cards, and a closer look shows names like Intimidating Shout, Hot Iron, and Kilovolt. The announcement boasts a selection of more than 100 cards and the series' wacky humor.The look of the game is obviously inspired by fantasy tropes, including armored knights, swords, and even a mechanized dragon. Image & Form noted that a fantasy RPG has been among its top requests from fans. The SteamWorld series has become known for applying its steampunk aesthetic to different settings and genres. So far it's explored an Old West motif in the two SteamWorld Dig games and SteamWorld Tower Defense, and a sci-fi space setting in SteamWorld Heist. This adds a third genre to the series' flexible rotation.The latest in the series is SteamWorld Dig 2, an action-platformer with shades of the classic Dig Dug. Like in the first game, you ventured further underground finding valuable loot for upgrades, while unlocking mysteries of a high-tech civilization."Dig 2 manages to not only be an exceptional successor, but a great adventure in its own right," critic Matt Espineli wrote in GameSpot's review. "Where the first game was a diamond in the rough, Dig 2 is a polished jewel." Info from Gamespot.com

Although the second season of The Punisher only hit Netflix last week, the future of the show remains uncertain. Three of Netflix's other Marvel shows have been cancelled in last few months, and it remains a possibility that The Punisher might join them. However, showrunner Steve Lightfoot is already speaking about potential next projects, including revisiting another much-loved Marvel character.In an interview with comicbook.com, Lightfoot revealed he is interested in making a show about Blade, the vampire hunter who previously featured in two movies starring Wesley Snipes. "I have no idea who owns it, but I've always loved the Blade character," he said. "I think that would be a great one to come back with. I thought those movies were great and I love that mythology. I'm a big horror fan, and as a fan of that it would be a fun one to play around with."This isn't the first time in recent months that there have been rumors of a potential Blade revival. In August, Snipes himself told The Huffington Post that he would be interested in returning to the role. "There's always a possibility, you know. It's in Marvel's hands," he said. "They're controlling the pace and the flow with that. Conversations have been good. They see the value in it. We see the value in it. I'm still in shape enough and fit enough to handle the role. We'll see how it goes. I don't really know what's going to happen to it yet."Blade was released in 1998, and was followed by Guillermo Del Toro's Blade 2 in 2002, and Blade 3 in 2004. There was also short-lived spin-off TV show in 2006.As for The Punisher, Lightfoot spoke about the future of the show and remained hopeful that Season 3 might happen. "Because I'm so fully involved in the show, usually what happens for me is I finish the last one," he said. "I've got a really good idea about what would be next. I've got a very good idea about what Season 3 is, I've got an idea for it I'm really excited about, which Marvel know about and they're also excited about. We just obviously hope we get the chance to go make it."Info from Gamespot.com

GameStop has rolled out its latest set of weekly deals, and this time it's heavily marking down recent Ubisoft games. Far Cry 5, The Crew 2, Just Dance 2019, and Assassin's Creed Odyssey are all discounted. In fact, at $15, the price for Far Cry 5 is even lower than the recent Ubisoft franchise sale on Xbox One. The older but still going strong Rainbow Six Siege is also reduced, if you've been looking for an opportunity to hop into one of Ubisoft's most successful live games.In non-Ubisoft deals, Hitman 2 and Battlefield 5 are both going for $30, and Just Cause 4 has already been reduced to $40. If you're more in a sporting mood you can pick up FIFA 19 and NHL 19 for $40, or NBA Live 19 and WWE 2K19 for $30.Other deals include cheap prices on deluxe editions, so you can get a game plus its bonus content for a song. Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 Deluxe Edition is $30, and Valkyria Chronicles 4 Memoirs from Battle Edition for Nintendo Switch is $60, down from a whopping $100. Sometimes waiting pays off.The weekly circular ad also touts a 2 for $20 deal on pre-owned games under $15, which includes some big names you may have missed like Black Ops 3 and Mortal Kombat X. And of course the retailer is touting that there's still time to pre-order Kingdom Hearts 3 and receive a fabric poster as a bonus. The store is also offering 25% off Kingdom Hearts collectibles.Check below for the highlights or read the weekly circular. Offers in the circular are valid through January 29, while the Ubisoft deals may expire earlier.Assassin's Creed Odyssey - $25Battlefield 5 - $30Far Cry 5 - $15FIFA 19 - $40Hitman 2 - $30Just Cause 4 - $40Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 Deluxe - $30NBA Live 19 - $30NHL 19 - $40Rainbow Six Seige - $15The Crew 2 - $15Valkyria Chronicles 4 Memoirs from Battle Edition (Switch) - $60WWE 2K19 - $30Info from Gamespot.com

January is almost over and February will be here soon, and that means Netflix subscribers have a whole new slew of movies, TV, and originals to choose from. Sadly, it also means a bunch of stuff is leaving the service as well. Starting on February 1, subscribers will find plenty of new content to binge as Netflix starts dropping new stuff.Starting on the first of the month, Netflix will release the first three American Pie movies. The early-00s series was the most successful comedic franchise during that time. In addition, Jaws, Jaws 2, Jaws 3, and Jaws: The Revenge will be available, so you can cuddle up to that special someone to watch a great white shark eat a bunch of beach-goers--and some people at an underwater aquarium.As far as original programming goes, there are a couple of key dates to keep in mind. On Valentine's Day (February 14), comedic actor Ken Jeong drops his first comedy special, "You Complete Me, Ho." Jeong returns to stand-up in this special and looks back on how he was a doctor and transitioned into comedy. Additionally, on February 15, The Umbrella Academy comes to the service. Based on the comic book series of the same name, the show follows sibilings who are reunited after their father's death and learn they have extraordinary powers.Sadly, there are a few great selections leaving the service in February, so you'll want to watch them soon before they disappear. Black Dynamite, Clerks, Children of Men, The Big Lebowski, and Shaun of the Dead all leave Netflix on February 1, and later in the month, you can say goodbye to Cabin Fever (2/2) and Piranha (2/20).Below, you'll find everything coming and leaving Netflix for February. Make sure to check back to GameSpot with weekly updates for newly arriving shows and see what's in store for Hulu and Amazon Prime as well.Coming In FebruaryAvail. 2/1/19About a BoyAmerican PieAmerican Pie 2American WeddingAs Good as It GetsBilly ElliotDear Ex-- NETFLIX FILMFinal DestinationFree Rein: Valentine's Day-- NETFLIX ORIGINALHairsprayHostelJawsJaws 2Jaws 3Jaws: The RevengePersonal ShopperPretty in PinkRussian Doll-- NETFLIX ORIGINALSiempre bruja-- NETFLIX ORIGINALThe Edge of SeventeenTrue: Happy Hearts Day-- NETFLIX ORIGINALVelvet Buzzsaw-- NETFLIX FILMAvail. 2/2/19Bordertown: Season 2-- NETFLIX ORIGINALRomance is a Bonus Book (Streaming Every Saturday)-- NETFLIX ORIGINALAvail. 2/3/19Disney's Beverly Hills ChihuahuaAvail. 2/5/19Ray Romano: Right Here, Around the Corner-- NETFLIX ORIGINALAvail. 2/6/19The SoloistAvail. 2/8/19¡Nailed It! México-- NETFLIX ORIGINALEl árbol de la sangre-- NETFLIX FILMHigh Flying Bird-- NETFLIX FILMKevin Hart's Guide to Black History-- NETFLIX ORIGINALOne Day at a Time: Season 3-- NETFLIX ORIGINALReMastered: The Two Killings of Sam Cooke-- NETFLIX ORIGINALThe Epic Tales of Captain Underpants: Season 2-- NETFLIX ORIGINALUnauthorized Living-- NETFLIX ORIGINALAvail. 2/9/19The Break: Season 2-- NETFLIX ORIGINALAvail. 2/10/19Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj: Volume 2 (Streaming Every Sunday)-- NETFLIX ORIGINALAvail. 2/11/19Flavorful Origins: Chaoshan Cuisine-- NETFLIX ORIGINALLittle WomenAvail. 2/14/19Dating Around-- NETFLIX ORIGINALKen Jeong: You Complete Me, Ho-- NETFLIX ORIGINALAvail. 2/15/19Larry Charles' Dangerous World of Comedy-- NETFLIX ORIGINALThe Breaker Upperers-- NETFLIX FILMThe Dragon Prince: Season 2-- NETFLIX ORIGINALThe Umbrella Academy-- NETFLIX ORIGINALYucatan-- NETFLIX FILMAvail. 2/16/19Black SeaStudio 54The 40-Year-Old VirginAvail. 2/21/19The Drug King-- NETFLIX FILMAvail. 2/22/19Chef's Table: Volume 6-- NETFLIX ORIGINALFirebrand-- NETFLIX FILMGO! Vive a tu manera-- NETFLIX ORIGINALPaddleton-- NETFLIX FILMParis Is Us (Paris est à nous)-- NETFLIX FILMRebellion: Season 2-- NETFLIX ORIGINALSuburra: Season 2-- NETFLIX ORIGINALThe Big Family Cooking Showdown: Season 2-- NETFLIX ORIGINALThe Photographer of Mauthausen-- NETFLIX FILMWorkin' Moms-- NETFLIX ORIGINALAvail. 2/25/19Dolphin Tale 2Avail. 2/26/19Our Idiot BrotherAvail. 2/27/19Unsolved: Tupac & BiggieAvail. 2/28/19Jeopardy!: Collection 2The ReboundLeaving In FebruaryLeaving 2/1/19Black DynamiteBride of ChuckyChildren of MenClerksDisney's The Princess Diaries 2: Royal EngagementElla EnchantedLara Croft: Tomb RaiderQueer as Folk: Seasons 1-4Queer as Folk: The Final SeasonShaun of the DeadThe Big LebowskiThe Bourne UltimatumWoman in GoldLeaving 2/2/19Cabin FeverLeaving 2/3/19SingLeaving 2/19/19Disney's Girl Meets World: Seasons 1-3Leaving 2/20/19PiranhaInfo from Gamespot.com

As part of Nintendo's "Nindies" showcase today, the company surprise-released a handful of games. Three of the games shown off during the presentation are available now through the Nintendo Eshop.When Ski Lifts Go Wrong ($15) is a physics-based construction puzzle game that has you building--what else--ski lifts. Once they're constructed you can set them free to become used by the customers, to often hilariously disastrous results. Goat Simulator: The GOATY ($30) is a bundle that includes several Goat Simulator expansions. Finally, Unruly Heroes ($20) is an action platformer with four heroes that can be swapped in solo play or cooperatively.The presentation had a few other surprises in store, including the announcement of SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech, a card-based RPG set in a fantasy steampunk world. It also finally revealed a release date for Wargroove, which is set for just around the corner on February 1.Other games featured during the showcase included Double Kick Heroes, Forager, Inmost, and CrossCode. Nintendo has made a name for its "Nindies" label, as the Nintendo Switch tends to get large updates loaded with indie games on a weekly basis.Info from Gamespot.com

As promised, Nintendo showcased a variety of new games on the way to Switch this year during its latest Indie Highlights video. In all, the company spotlighted nine new indie titles for the hybrid console, including a few surprise releases that are available to download right now.The biggest surprise of the presentation was the announcement of SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech, the newest game in Image & Form's genre-spanning series. Unlike the recent SteamWorld Dig 2, SteamWorld Quest is a steampunk-fantasy RPG in which players select cards to perform attacks. No release date has been announced, but the game is slated to arrive first on Switch later this year.Nintendo also announced a release date for Wargroove, the Advance Wars-style turn-based strategy game from Stardew Valley publisher Chucklefish. After suffering multiple delays, the title is finally scheduled to arrive on Switch on February 1, and those who have been eagerly awaiting its release can now pre-order it from the Eshop.While those two titles may still be on the horizon, a handful of new games are available to download now from the Switch Eshop, including the ridiculous Goat Simulator: The GOATY, the stylish 2D co-op sidescroller Unruly Heroes, and the Bridge Constructor-like construction game When Ski Lifts Go Wrong.Other titles we got a look at during the presentation included Chucklefish's atmospheric platformer, Inmost, the unique rhythm metal shooter Double Kick Heroes, and the 2D action RPG CrossCode. You can see the full list of games showcased during the Indie Highlights video and their release windows below.Wargroove - February 1, 2019Double Kick Heroes - Summer 2019When Ski Lifts Go Wrong -- Out nowForager -- Coming SoonGoat Simulator: The GOATY -- Out nowInmost -- 2019Unruly Heroes -- Out nowCrossCode -- 2019SteamWorld Quest -- 2019Info from Gamespot.com

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's first DLC character, Piranha Plant, is coming very soon. The new fighter is slated to arrive this February, and unlike Persona 5's Joker, it won't be included as part of the game's Fighters Pass. However, early adopters will be able to receive the character free of charge--but your time to get it is running out.To receive Piranha Plant for free, you'll need to register your copy of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on My Nintendo by January 31. This was done automatically if you purchased the game digitally through the Switch Eshop, but if you picked up a physical copy, you'll need to register it by pressing the plus button while highlighting the game's icon in the Switch menu, then selecting the My Nintendo Rewards option.Once you've registered the game, you'll receive an email containing a download code for Piranha Plant to the address linked to your My Nintendo account within 10 days. Redeem the code in the Switch Eshop and Piranha Plant will automatically be added to your game once it launches. You'll have until 11:59 PM PT on June 30 to redeem the code. If you miss the cutoff date, Piranha Plant will also be offered as paid DLC separate from the Fighters Pass.Nintendo has still yet to announce exactly when Piranha Plant will arrive, but the character is scheduled to release sometime in February. We got a brief look at its unique fighting style during the final Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Direct last November. As in Mario's platforming games, it's able to spit poison and spiked balls at opponents, while its Final Smash summons Petey Piranha.Beyond Piranha Plant, Nintendo will release five other DLC characters for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the first of whom will be the aforementioned Joker. Each fighter will be released individually alongside a new stage and multiple music tracks for $6, but players can get all five at a discounted price through the $25 Fighters Pass.Info from Gamespot.com